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Anthony D Harries

Publications and source records attributed to Anthony D Harries.

25 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2003

Integration of operational research into National Tuberculosis Control Programmes.

Operational research, within the context of a national disease control programme, may be described as the search for knowledge on interventions, tools or strategies which enhance programme effectiveness. There are two examples from Malawi of how operational research into recurrent tuberculosis and decentralization of treatment lead to information which enabled the National TB Control Programme (NTP) to change and improve its practice and policy. The key factors which allowed this to happen, and the guiding principles about integrating research into national programmes are discussed. TB programmes must have clear objectives, be able to identify constraints which prevent objectives being met and ask research questions around these constraints. There must be sufficient resources for research, both material and financial, and this requires programmes to incorporate a research agenda into their costed annual workplans. Training is also a key component of developing an integrated research programme, and should be included in the budgets. Research outputs should be judged in terms of activities undertaken and completed, papers written, and regular documentation of how research has influenced policy and practice. Finally, there should be strong advocacy for operational research, so that government policy makers can be convinced of its value.

Communicable Disease Control↗
PubMed2003

The diagnosis of extrapulmonary tuberculosis in Malawi.

There is little information on a country-wide basis in sub-Saharan Africa about how the diagnosis of extra-pulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) is made. A country-wide cross-sectional study was carried out in 40 non-private hospitals in Malawi which register and treat (TB) patients in order to assess diagnostic practices in adults registered with EPTB. All patients aged 15 years and above in hospital on treatment for EPTB were reviewed usingTB registers, case note files and clinical assessment. There were 244 patients, 132 men and 112 women whose mean age was 36 years. In 138 (57%) patients, all appropriate procedures and investigations, commensurate with hospital resources, had been carried out. Of 171 EPTB patients with cough for 3 weeks or longer, 138 (81%) submitted sputum specimens for smear microscopy of acid-fast bacilli (AFB). A confirmed diagnosis ofTB was made in 15 (6%) patients based on finding AFB or caseating granulomas in specimens. In 157 (64%) patients, the diagnosis of EPTB was considered to be correct. In 46 (19%) patients the diagnosis was considered to be TB, although different from the type of EPTB with which the patient was registered. In 39 (16%) patients an alternative non-TB diagnosis was made and in two (1%) patients it was not possible to make a decision. Diagnostic practices need to be improved, and ways of doing this are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Research that influences policy and practice - characteristics of operational research to improve malaria control in Mpumalanga Province, South Africa.

BACKGROUND: Much communicable disease control research has had little impact on local control programme policy and practice for want of an operational component. The operational research model - the systematic search for knowledge on interventions, tools or strategies that enhance programme effectiveness - is gaining recognition as an appropriate method for addressing perplexing questions within public health programmes. METHODS: A series of operational research studies were conducted to refine malaria diagnosis in Mpumalanga Province, South Africa between 1995 and 1999. The grounded theory approach was used with groups of experienced Masters of Public Health students in South Africa and Australia to analyse a compilation of these studies for determining positive and negative attributes of operational research that affect its ability to influence communicable disease control policy and practice. RESULTS: The principal positive attributes of the operational research studies were high local relevance, greater ability to convince local decision-makers, relatively short lag-time before implementation of findings, and the cost-effective nature of this form of research. Potential negative features elicited included opportunities forfeited by using scarce resources to conduct research and the need to adequately train local health staff in research methodology to ensure valid results and accurate interpretation of findings. CONCLUSIONS: Operational research effectively influenced disease control policy and practice in rural South Africa, by providing relevant answers to local questions and engaging policy-makers. This resulted in accelerated inclusion of appropriate measures into a local communicable disease control programme.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Highly active antiretroviral therapy and tuberculosis control in Africa: synergies and potential.

HIV/AIDS (human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) and TB (tuberculosis) are two of the world's major pandemics, the brunt of which falls on sub-Saharan Africa. Efforts aimed at controlling HIV/AIDS have largely focused on prevention, little attention having been paid to care. Work on TB control has concentrated on case detection and treatment. HIV infection has complicated the control of tuberculosis. There is unlikely to be a decline in the number of cases of TB unless additional strategies are developed to control both this disease and HIV simultaneously. Such strategies would include active case-finding in situations where TB transmission is high, the provision of a package of care for HIV-related illness, and the application of highly active antiretroviral therapy. The latter is likely to have the greatest impact, but for this therapy to become more accessible in Africa the drugs would have to be made available through international support and a programme structure would have to be developed for its administration. It could be delivered by means of a structure based on the five-point strategy called DOTS, which has been adopted for TB control. However, it may be unrealistic to give TB control programmes the responsibility for running such a programme. A better approach might be to deliver highly active antiretroviral therapy within a comprehensive HIV/AIDS management strategy complementing the preventive work already being undertaken by AIDS control programmes. TB programmes could contribute towards the development and implementation of this strategy.

Africa South of the Sahara↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Sexually transmitted infections among prison inmates in a rural district of Malawi.

As part of a comprehensive human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention strategy targeting high-risk groups, sexually transmitted infection (STI) clinics are offered to all prisoners in Thyolo district, southern Malawi. Prison inmates are not, however, allowed access to condoms as it is felt that such an intervention might encourage homosexuality which is illegal in Malawi. A study was conducted between January 2000 and December 2001 in order to determine the prevalence, incidence, and patterns of STIs among male inmates of 2 prisons in this rural district. A total of 4229 inmates were entered into the study during a 2-year period. Of these, 178 (4.2%) were diagnosed with an STI. This included 83 (46%) inmates with urethral discharge, 60 (34%) with genital ulcer disease (GUD), and 35 (20%) inmates with epididymo-orchitis. Fifty (28%) STIs were considered incident cases acquired within the prisons (incidence risk 12 cases/1000 inmates/year). GUD was the most common STI in this group comprising 52% of all STI. This study shows that a considerable proportion of STIs among inmates are acquired within prison. In a setting of same-sex inmates, this suggests inter-prisoner same-sex sexual activity. The findings have implications for HIV transmission and might help in developing more rational policies on STI control and condom access within Malawi prisons.

Adult↗